Turning the threat into a solution: using roadways to survey cryptic species and to identify locations for conservation

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Baxter-Gilbert ◽  
Julia L. Riley ◽  
Sean P. Boyle ◽  
David Lesbarrères ◽  
Jacqueline D. Litzgus
Keyword(s):  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Landscape Fragmentation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Specific Interest ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Road Survey

Freshwater turtles are one of the most imperilled groups of vertebrates globally, and roads have been associated with their decline. Although roads are typically viewed as an imminent threat to population persistence, because of direct mortality and increased landscape fragmentation, we argue that they are an important sampling tool for collecting a wide variety of data that can inform conservation efforts. Road surveys can yield important presence data when conducting species inventories, particularly for cryptic species, and can also indicate where to implement road mitigation measures. Our research examined three road survey methods from two previous studies (walking versus bicycling and walking versus driving) to test their relative effectiveness at locating turtles. We found that walking surveys yielded the highest number of turtles per kilometre; however, bicycling and driving surveys also presented advantages (specifically, the ability to survey longer lengths of road more quickly). We recommend using walking surveys in areas of specific interest (e.g. to investigate suitable habitat for imperilled species or to investigate the presence of cryptic species), and bicycling or driving surveys between sections of specific interest. Road survey methods could be used in addition to more traditional sampling approaches (e.g. trapping and visual surveys), and do not need to be restricted to areas where roadwork projects are in progress or being planned. Road surveys could also be used during general environmental assessments and ecological research, to effectively incorporate turtle presence data into conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Power line routing and configuration as major drivers of collision risk in two bustard species

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Teresa Marques ◽  
Ricardo C. Martins ◽  
João Paulo Silva ◽  
Jorge M. Palmeirim ◽  
Francisco Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Power Line ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Collision Risk ◽  
Great Bustard ◽  
Line Configuration ◽  
Tetrax Tetrax

Abstract Collision with power lines is a major cause of mortality for many bird species. Understanding the biotic and abiotic factors that increase collision risk is therefore important for implementing mitigation measures to minimize mortality, such as power line rerouting or wire marking. Here, we used collision events registered during 2003–2015 along 280 km of transmission power lines in southern Portugal to analyse spatio-temporal patterns and collision risk factors in two sympatric, threatened, and collision-prone species: the great bustard Otis tarda and the little bustard Tetrax tetrax. The occurrence of collisions was not uniform across space and time, and variations could be explained by the species' ecological requirements, distribution patterns and behaviour. Although both species fly considerable distances between areas of suitable habitat, collisions were far more likely in power line sections with > 20% (for the little bustard) or > 50% (for the great bustard) of open farmland habitat in the surroundings. Power line configuration was also important: taller pylons and those with a higher number of wire levels posed a higher risk for both species. Wire marking had a small but significant effect for the little bustard, reducing collisions risk. There was, however, no similar effect for the great bustard, possibly a result of limited data. Mitigation measures should be implemented to prevent bustard collisions, including adequate route planning, ideally avoiding areas with > 20% of open habitat. Line configuration and wire marking are particularly important where such localities cannot be avoided and power lines cross areas with a high proportion of bustard habitat, including outside protected areas.

scholarly journals Prediction of leopard habitat suitability in Taman Negara main forest complex, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3(SI)) ◽  
pp. 806-811
Author(s):  
N.F. Khodri ◽  
◽  
T. Lihan ◽  
M.A. Mustapha ◽  
T.M. Taher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Urban Habitat ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Habitat Suitability Modeling ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Gis Data

Aim: This research assessed the distribution of leopard to predict the habitat suitability in Taman Negara National Park and adjacent forest area. Methodology: Environmental factors for habitat suitability were derived from geographical information system (GIS) data such as elevation, slope, land-use, distance from urban and distance from river. Leopard presence data from 1993 to 2008 were integrated with the environmental parameters using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to assess habitat suitability across the study area. Results: The results showed that distance from river contributed the most (39.3%) in the habitat suitability modeling followed by distance from urban (31.4%), elevation (12.3%), land use types (10.1%), and slope (6.9%). Distance from river and urban showed highest contribution that influenced leopard distribution in which most suitable habitat occurred in proximity with river and further from urban. Habitat suitability of leopard were distributed among 48% over 2,218,389 ha of the study area. Interpretation: The findings of this study provides knowledge on how the species move and exploit different habitat niches for more effective conservation management. It provide models for future wildlife conservation and urban planning.

scholarly journals MANAJEMEN RISIKO PADA PELAKSANAAN PROYEK KONSTRUKSI GEDUNG PEMERINTAH DI KOTA DILI – TIMOR LESTE

1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio P.M Marques ◽  
I M. Alit K. Salain ◽  
I W. Yansen
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Project Implementation ◽  
Timor Leste ◽  
Implementation Period ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Cost

Building project as one of the construction services are filled with varying risks during the construction phase of the project implementation. At the stage of the project implementation, risks may arise either the risk of time, cost and those which affect the quality of the project. Therefore, we need to understand the risks at the construction phase and mitigation to the risks to meet in execution of project based on initial planning. The study was conducted to identify the risks in the implementation of construction projects of government buildings by using survey methods that aim to get the opinion of the respondents regarding the risks at implementation of the government building construction projects in the city of Dili - Timor Leste. Further, it was done a risk assessment to determine the major or main risks. Major risk is controlled through mitigation measures and allocation of risks to the parties directly involved in construction projects such as Project Owner, Technical Supervisor, Consultant Design, Consultant Supervision and Contractor. The analysis used in this study is a qualitative analysis. The results showed 64 risks identified in the implementation of construction projects there are 10 government buildings risks (16%) with an unacceptable category, 18 risks (28%) with the undesirable category, 28 risks (44%) with acceptable category and 8 risks (12%) with negligible category. Ownership of major / main risk to the parties directly involved in the implementation of construction projects such as the project owner, technical supervisor, consultant design, consultant supervision and contractors. The project Owner and Technical Supervision (Department of Public Works) is expected to further enhance the ability to manage projects so not throwing responsibility in managing government projects. consultant design and sonsultant supervision to be more careful in design till supervision during the implementation period so as to meet the cost, quality and time planned. Contractors are expected to further improve the performance of the building construction project.

scholarly journals Evaluating the operational resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises to flooding using a computational modelling and simulation approach: a case study of the 2007 flood in Tewkesbury

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2168) ◽  
pp. 20190210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Coates ◽  
Meshal Alharbi ◽  
Chunhui Li ◽  
Sangaralingam Ahilan ◽  
Nigel Wright
Keyword(s):  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban Flood ◽  
Geographical Environment

The resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to disruptive events is significant as this highly prevalent category of business forms the economic backbone in developed countries. This article provides an overview of the application of a computational modelling and simulation approach to evaluate SMEs' operational resilience to flooding based on combinations of structural and procedural mitigation measures that may be implemented to improve their premises' resistance to flooding and safeguard their business continuity. The approach integrates flood modelling and simulation with agent-based modelling and simulation (ABMS) within a modelled geographical environment. SMEs are modelled as agents based on findings of semi-structured interviews with SMEs that have experienced flooding or are at risk of flooding. In this paper, the ABMS has been applied to a new case study of the major flood event of 2007 in Tewkesbury. Furthermore, to enable an evaluation of the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs in terms of the relative effectiveness of flood mitigation measures, a new coefficient based on production loss is introduced. Results indicate structural mitigation measures are more effective than procedural measures. While this result is intuitive, the approach provides a means of evaluating the relative effectiveness of combinations of mitigation measures that SMEs may implement to enhance their operational resilience to flooding. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Urban flood resilience’.

scholarly journals Anticipated climate changes reveal shifting in habitat suitability of high-altitude selaginellas in Java, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
AHMAD DWI SETYAWAN ◽  
Jatna Supriatna ◽  
Nisyawati ◽  
Ilyas Nursamsi ◽  
SUTARNO SUTARNO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Pessimistic Scenario

Abstract. Setyawan AD, Supriatna J, Nisyawati, Nursamsi I, Sutarno, Sugiyarto, Sunarto, Pradan P, Budiharta S, Pitoyo A, Suhardono S, Setyono P, Indrawan M. 2020. Anticipated climate changes reveal shifting in habitat suitability of high-altitude selaginellas in Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5482-5497. High-altitude ecosystems with humid and cool climate are the preferred habitat for some Selaginella species (selaginellas). Such habitats are available in Java, Indonesia, which also has fertile soils with rich mineral contents resulted from volcanic activities. However, the high-altitude ecosystems in Java are threatened by various anthropogenic activities as well as changes in climate conditions, potentially affecting some Selaginella species. This study aimed to investigate the shift in suitable habitat of four species of high-altitude Selaginella spp. (Selaginella involvens, S. opaca, S. ornata, and S. remotifolia) in Java Island under current and future climate conditions predicted by several representative greenhouse gas concentration pathways. Presence data of Selaginella localities were collected from field survey between 2007 and 2014 across the island, as well as occurrence points from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database. A total of 1,721 occurrence points data along with environmental and climate data were used to develop species distribution models using MaxEnt. Future habitat distributions were projected under four climate scenarios to see the shift in suitable habitat and altitudinal ranges. The results showed that the distribution of the four high-altitude Selaginella species are strongly influenced by altitude, annual average temperature, and annual rainfall. In the present time, 37.32% (48,974 km2) of the area of Java has been predicted to be suitable for high-altitude Selaginella. Under the optimistic climate scenario (RCP 2.6), the highly suitable area will likely to decrease by almost 35% in the year 2080, whereas the medium and low suitable areas will reduce by about 37.2% and 18.3%, respectively. Under the pessimistic scenario (RCP 8.5), about 21.2% of low suitable areas will be lost in 2080, whereas the medium and highly suitable areas are predicted to decrease by around 38.1% and 33.4%, respectively. Under the pessimistic scenario, there will be upward shift by 51.1 m in the year 2030 from the current’s mean altitude and will shift by almost 150 m in the year 2080. The maximum altitude of predicted suitable habitat is also predicted to increase to reach almost 3500 m asl in the year 2080. The results of this study imply that habitat shift of four high-altitude Selaginella species varies depending on the scenario, but in all cases, the losses are greater than gains.

scholarly journals Using LIDAR Remote Sensing for identifying suitable habitat for a critically endangered carnivore in Nahuelbuta Range in South-Central Chile

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Carrasco ◽  
Raul Briones
Keyword(s):  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Area Index ◽  
South Central ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Elevation Model

The range of Nahuelbuta has an outstanding biogeographic importance and high endemism of flora and fauna. In this range, the Valdivian temperate forest extends north along the maritime watershed, while the sclerophyllous forest extends south along the continental slope and northern coastal plain. The L. fulvipes that inhabits this habitat is considered at high extinction risk due to both demographic and ecological factors, such as disease, predation by cougars or other fox species. Our study was conducted in Caramávida using camera traps (N = 84) during October 2011-March 2012 to observe L. fulvipes, this information was correlated with LIDAR data to generate: elevation model, forest height; and the raw data were used to estimate the vertical vegetation coverage for seven different layers of height, cover, leaf area index and vertical complexity index. Our results indicate the presence of 17 positive results with L. fulvipes watch. The values of occupancy, occupancy corrected for detectability, and detectability, indicate that the proportion of stations where the species was recorded was 20%, but the actual ratio would reach 25% after correcting for detectability. The presence data and vegetation analyzes indicate correlations with tree cover larger than 20 meters high and with a high diversity of vegetation in the vertical profile, which may propose the presence of sites with potential presence and corridors for this species. We conclude that this methodology can generate highly accurate and relevant vegetation variables that may provide some guidance regarding which are the areas where a species is potentially distributed and the design of corridors that may enrich their habitat.

Recent advances in applied avalanche research in Norway

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Jaedicke ◽  
Dieter Issler ◽  
Kjersti Gleditsch Gisnås ◽  
Sean Salazar ◽  
Kate Robinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Methods ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Snow Avalanches ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Scaling Behaviour ◽  
Snow Properties ◽  
Climate Time Series

<div> <p>Snow avalanches are a significant natural hazard and common phenomenon in Norway. Applied research on avalanches and their societal impact has been conducted at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) for nearly half a century.</p> <p>Recent activities within the applied avalanche research group at NGI have focused on four areas: (1) Improved understanding of is sought through the application of simple probabilistic release models and local wind modelling. Encouraging results are obtained by analysing and refining publicly available climate time series for temperature, snow depth and precipitation on a 1 km² grid. A major remaining challenge in view of elaborating realistic large-area avalanche hazard indication maps is the a priori determination of the size of release areas as a function of return period. (2) Different aspects of are investigated by means of a wide array of experimental technologies at the Ryggfonn full-scale test site, application of aerial survey methods to derive snow distribution, and investigation of the scaling behaviour of avalanches with extreme runouts in many different paths. The results of all these analyses point towards the need for a departure from modelling avalanches with Voellmy-type models in favour of models encompassing multiple flow regimes, a more realistic rheology and entrainment as well as deposition. (3) To improve risk assessment and mitigation measures, with structures are studied by documenting destructive avalanche events, constructing vulnerability curves for persons inside buildings based on historic avalanche events, improving methods for evaluation of individual risks, and development of criteria for physical mitigation measures against powder-snow avalanches. (4) Current efforts in focus on the one hand on simple block models for studying scaling behaviour on idealised and natural slopes and on the other hand on an advanced multi-flow-regime model that also incorporates different effects of the snow cover. Ongoing work aims, among others, at an entrainment and deposition model that is dynamically consistent and only depends on measurable snow properties. This contribution will present an overview of recent activities and advancements in applied avalanche research in Norway. It is hoped that it will serve to facilitate future international collaborative efforts to address challenges in applied avalanche research.</p> </div>

Developing monitoring protocols for cost-effective surveillance of lichens

2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea J. BRITTON ◽  
Ruth J. MITCHELL ◽  
Jacqueline M. POTTS ◽  
David R. GENNEY
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
M Cell ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Monitoring Protocols ◽  
Survey Methodologies

AbstractThe criteria set out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to identify threatened species requires information on population trends which, for priority lichen species within Scotland, is lacking. Collecting such data is problematic as there is a lack of empirical information on the performance of different sampling designs and survey methodologies. Using Pseudocyphellaria norvegica as an example species, we tested differences in the efficiency of 3 transect patterns and a 20 minute search for surveying 100×100 m cells of potentially suitable habitat. The methods were not intended to census the total population of the cells but, rather, to provide a standardized, repeatable estimate of the population density to allow detection of trends through time. We also tested the repeatability of the methods between surveyors. The results provided no evidence to suggest that controlled survey methodologies using fixed transect patterns were any better in terms of consistency between surveyors or numbers of occupied trees found than 20 minute searches of the areas within each 100×100 m cell deemed suitable for the target species by an experienced surveyor. Given that following the fixed transect patterns took approximately twice as long as a 20 minute search, the search method would clearly be more cost-effective when there are large numbers of cells to survey. For all survey methods variability between surveyors was high, meaning that it would be extremely difficult to detect temporal changes in populations, and hence identify population trends. We also examined the extent to which recording presence/absence at the 1 ha scale might improve consistency between surveyors and found that it reduced, but did not eliminate, the surveyor variability. Recording only presence/absence would allow greater numbers of cells to be surveyed using the same level of resources, but would reduce the amount of information available per cell for use in analysis of population trends. We conclude that controlling inter-surveyor variability while collecting adequate data for population trend analysis is a major issue when planning and implementing any large-scale survey of lichen species.

scholarly journals Habitat Connectivity for the Conservation of Small Ungulates in A Human-Dominated Landscape

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Rajashekhar Niyogi ◽  
Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar ◽  
Poushali Hazra ◽  
Masidur Rahman ◽  
Subham Banerjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Central India ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Geospatial Information ◽  
Habitat Network ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Wildlife Mortality ◽  
Present Setting

Conserving landscape connections among favorable habitats is a widely used strategy to maintain populations in an increasingly fragmented world. A species can then exist as a metapopulation consisting of several subpopulations connected by dispersal. Our study focuses on the importance of human–wildlife coexistence areas in maintaining connectivity among primary habitats of small ungulates within and outside protected areas in a large landscape in central India. We used geospatial information and species presence data to model the suitable habitats, core habitats, and connectivity corridors for four antelope species in an ~89,000 km2 landscape. We found that about 63% of the core habitats, integrated across the four species, lie outside the protected areas. We then measured connectivity in two scenarios: the present setting, and a hypothetical future setting – where habitats outside protected areas are lost. We also modelled the areas with a high risk of human-influenced antelope mortality using eco-geographical variables and wildlife mortality records. Overall, we found that the habitats in multiple-use forests play a central role in maintaining the connectivity network for antelopes. Sizable expanses of privately held farmlands and plantations also contribute to the essential movement corridors. Some perilous patches with greater mortality risk for species require mitigation measures such as underpasses, overpasses, and fences. Greater conservation efforts are needed in the spaces of human–wildlife coexistence to conserve the habitat network of small ungulates.

scholarly journals The Drone Revolution of Shark Science: A Review

Drones ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Paul A. Butcher ◽  
Andrew P. Colefax ◽  
Robert A. Gorkin ◽  
Stephen M. Kajiura ◽  
Naima A. López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
The Past ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Multiple Species

Over the past decade, drones have become a popular tool for wildlife management and research. Drones have shown significant value for animals that were often difficult or dangerous to study using traditional survey methods. In the past five years drone technology has become commonplace for shark research with their use above, and more recently, below the water helping to minimise knowledge gaps about these cryptic species. Drones have enhanced our understanding of shark behaviour and are critically important tools, not only due to the importance and conservation of the animals in the ecosystem, but to also help minimise dangerous encounters with humans. To provide some guidance for their future use in relation to sharks, this review provides an overview of how drones are currently used with critical context for shark monitoring. We show how drones have been used to fill knowledge gaps around fundamental shark behaviours or movements, social interactions, and predation across multiple species and scenarios. We further detail the advancement in technology across sensors, automation, and artificial intelligence that are improving our abilities in data collection and analysis and opening opportunities for shark-related beach safety. An investigation of the shark-based research potential for underwater drones (ROV/AUV) is also provided. Finally, this review provides baseline observations that have been pioneered for shark research and recommendations for how drones might be used to enhance our knowledge in the future.

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